SA share points in Shield opener

AAP & SACA Media

South Australia has split the points with reigning Sheffield Shield champions Victoria in a contest dominated by the bat at CitiPower Centre.

The two teams shook hands and declared the match a draw 30 minutes before Tea on the final day of play with the West End Redbacks holding a 55-run lead at 6/671 in their first innings in reply to Victoria’s declaration total of 6/616.

Experienced batsman Tom Cooper top-scored with an unbeaten 271* for his career-best first-class total as runs flowed freely for both sides.

Young allrounder Tom Andrews crafted his maiden first-class ton for a personal-best score of 101 while Alex Carey also hit three figures (117) for the visitors.

Victoria’s Nic Maddinson (224), Will Pucovski (123) and Marcus Harris (116) also made centuries on a hard, flat pitch that offered little for the bowlers.

South Australia’s 671 marked the State’s biggest innings total against Victoria and its third-highest ever, with Cooper’s 271* the equal-seventh largest individual Shield score for the Redbacks.

Tom Andrews innings highlights

SA opener Henry Hunt made a strong impression in his Shield debut with a mature 75 when the game was still alive, while captain Travis Head hit a half-century and absorbed 184 balls to see off Victoria’s early charge.

Nick Winter finished 29* alongside Player of the Match Cooper.

The Redbacks head to the Gabba to take on 2017-18 winners Queensland from Friday, 18 October in the next round of the Marsh Sheffield Shield.